CHAPTER 567: CHAPTER 555

Ethan strode up to Clara, grabbed her wrist, and said quietly, "What are you doing? There’s a limit to making jokes, and don’t you know what will happen if you make Ace angry?"

Clara’s gaze was muddled even as she turned to Ethan, but she only got more upset.

"Everyone, see? This man is no angel too, forcing himself on students just like his best friend. In fact, he’s worse-the student had ten babies with him. Pigs like him should be given the electric chair!"

With that, everyone’s attention turned to Ethan in record time.

"Exactly how much did you drink, woman?! Get a grip!" Ethan could smell the pungent

scent of alcohol from Clara’s mouth, and had to clasp his hand over her mouth to stop her from saying anything else.

"Look! Mmph-the scumbag is trying to kill me! Oof!"

Clara struggled violently, but Ethan simply scooped her up in his arms." Come with me. I can’t let you run around like this."

"Hey, what are you doing?! Let me go! I need to expose him! I—’ Clara protested but Ethan ignored her.

Ethan knew Ace-Clara would suffer horribly if she kept this up, so this was the only way to save her. He carried Clara out of the bar, even as she kept flailing like a fish in his arms.

However, she could not free herself, and was helplessly taken away...

With that, the rowdy mob screaming for Ace’s blood was leaderless, and no one made a sound.

Ace stared at a teary-eyed Joanna with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Go on, cry.

Weren’t you being so emotional just a moment ago?"

"Uh..." Joanna felt a little awkward as she wiped her tears. At this point, crying wasn’t an option without Clara’s support, because doing it alone was a little... weak.

Naturally, she had cried herself weary and used up all her patience, so she glowered as she cut to the chase, "Our time is valuable, so tell me-what do I have to do for you to let him go?"

Jovan was blind and hardly athletic-Ace could kill him easily as if he was crushing an ant with his boot. She certainly could not afford to upset him...

"Why should I spare him? He sabotaged my business and harassed me all the time." Ace remained seated, haughty as ever.

"So you’re admitting to abducting him! How much bad blood could there be between brothers?! But word of advice-don’t kill him, or you’ll have your comeuppance for being an ingrate!" Joanna warned, pointing at his face. She wanted to stop Ace from hurting Jovan

for both their sakes-Jovan was basically his parent reincarnated, and how was it different from patricide if Ace killed him?!

Ace, however, was left frowning in confusion. "What are you talking about? What bad blood with what brother?"

"I know you never considered Jovan a brother, but you are his biological brother. I’m telling you not to hurt him if you want to avoid divine retribution!" Joanna declared righteously.

"Jovan?" Ace came to a realization and chuckled coolly. "So, you’re actually talking about Jovan after all that?"

Joanna did a double take as she wondered what Ace was talking about.

Who else would I come for?"

Ace stayed silent, and simply stared at her with a meaningful look in her eyes.

Joanna lost her patience, and glanced at her surroundings before quietly saying, "I’ve cried and begged-l’ve prostrated myself as much as I can, so please, haven’t you had enough?

Let him go, or you’ll suffer too if I expose you."

"So, you’re done with crying and begging... and now you’re threatening me?" Ace folded his legs and smiled meaningfully, twirling his glass of tequila and taking a sip of it. "Don’t you know what the price for threatening me is?"

Joanna rolled her eyes at the man’s love of being dramatic-what else could it be other than another round of bickering?

"I don’t want to cause a scene, and no one wants word of this to get out," she retorted

staunchly. "But if you insist, I don’t mind knocking your teeth out!"

Ace was surprisingly not upset, and actually teased her, "That actually rhymes. Maybe you’re working part-time as a rapper?"

Renene was speechless-when did he become so cringeworthy?! That was the worst joke she’d ever heard!

"Since you came for Jovan, I’m curious to ask-how far would you go for him?" There was a gleam in Ace’s eyes as he looked at her. Truthfully, he had no idea where Jovan was, but he was still curious about how far she would go for Jovan.

Joanna was no fool, however, and sneered, "Judging from that question, I guess you’re not letting him go unless you get to mess with me?"

Ace raised a brow. "That’s one way to put it, yes."

Joanna suppressed her rage and asked calmly, "Then, tell me-what form of harassment would it take for you to be satisfied?"

She would stick to what she said before-she did not want to cause a scene, and would resolve the issue as subtly as possible. After all, beneath the appearance of their current enmity was their complicated past—it hit too close to home, and she would rather keep everything buried in the past where no one would find it.

"You love Jovan, don’t you?" Ace asked Joanna, resting his chin on his hands.

Joanna stayed silent and scowling. Anyone else would not hurt her if they asked that question. But it had to be Ace, and it made her throat tighten. After all, she could never tell the man before her that it was he whom she would love for all eternity!

However, Ace took Joanna’s silence for admission, and his sharp gaze turned cold. Even if he did not want to admit it, he knew very well that he was very upset at that moment. He did not know what he was upset about, but it was clear that he was!

And like an obstinate child who refused to lose, he was bent on interrogating the woman for the truth.

"I can see that you love him very much. Is that why you eloped with him, and betrayed me?"

The memories he lost had been an inner demon that hounded him relentlessly. He knew he should let sleeping dogs lie, but he simply could not resist!

It would be best if he could remember everything!